A Gathering in Worship Offered by the People of the Church of Christ, Union
10:30 am, Pentecost Sunday
Meditation
We need each other’s voice to sing, each other’s voice to love, each other’s views to help us bring our hearts to God above. Our lives like coals placed side by side to feed each other’s flame shall with the Spirit’s breath provide a blaze of faith to claim. ~Thomas Troeger
From There to Here: We Gather
Prelude
Welcome
The Call EJ Stokes, Reader
“We are not made for resignation. Passive acceptance is not the code written into our spirit. If that were true, as a species, we would have vanished long ago. Instead, for millennia, we have shaken off the temptation to simply accept reality and the demand that we bend the knee, and we have stood up to struggle against the odds, to change the situation, and to find an answer and a healing.
Those deep drives are the energy we call hope. Those active forces are what determine our future.
We are not made for resignation, but for freedom.” ~Steven Charleston
¨ Hymn #263 Black O Spirit of the Living God St. Matthew
1. O Spirit of the living God, pure light and fire divine, burn brightly in your church once more, its life and faith refine. Fill it with love and joy and power, with righteousness and peace; till Christ shall dwell in human hearts, and sin and sorrow cease.
2. Blow, wind of God! With wisdom blow, disperse and put to flight the mists of error, clouds of doubt, which hide you from our sight. Burn, winged fire! Inspire our lips, renew in us your call to preach with zeal your great good news, God’s love extends to all.
3. Teach us to utter living words of truth which all may hear, the language all can understand when love speaks loud and clear; till every age and race shall blend their creeds in one, and all together use their gifts to see your will is done.
4. So shall we know the power of Christ, the strength of love to save; so shall we rise with Christ to life which soars beyond the grave; and earth shall win true holiness, which makes your children whole; and draws us on by grace to reach creation’s glorious goal!
¨ Passing the Peace of Christ
All who come to this sanctuary are welcome companions on the journey of faith. Please turn to those nearest you and greet them with words of peace.
Word and Worship
Anthem Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost Malcolm Archer Union Church Choir
Gracious Spirit, holy ghost, taught by thee, we covet most of thy gifts at Pentecost, holy heavenly love. Love is kind, and suffers long, love is meek, and thinks no wrong, love than death itself more strong; therefore, give us love. Faith and hope and love we see joining hand in hand agree; but the greatest of the three, and the best is love. From the overshadowing of thy gold and silver wing shed on us, who to thee sing, holy love, heavenly love.
Scripture Lesson 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Let Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.
Now there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of services but the same Lord, and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of powerful deeds, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Children’s Moment as the children return to their seats we sing:
May God’s presence guard, protect and guide you. God bless you, God bless you. Our savior’s loving arms be ever ’round you. God bless you, God bless you.
Scripture Lesson Acts 2:1-21
Now there were devout Jews from every people under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Fellow Jews and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit,
and they shall prophesy.
And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
Sermon Freed for the Fire Rev. Kent Gilbert
Video Reflection
Living Prayer
Ringing of the Peace Bell
The Union Church Peace Bell was created by Jeff Enge in honor of Union Church member Carl Eschbach (1904-1998). A twin bell hangs in Berea’s sister province in Japan and is also rung in the hope of peace for all nations.
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Your contribution is love made visible. Thank you!
Offering Music
Silent Prayers and Prayers of the Community
Lord’s Prayer
All: Our Maker, Our Mother, and Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
From Here to There: We Depart
¨ Hymn #267 Black Come, O Spirit, Dwell among Us Ebenezer
- Come, O Spirit, dwell among us,come with Pentecostal power; give the church a stronger vision, help us face each crucial hour. Built upon a firm foundation, Jesus Christ, the Cornerstone, still the church is called to mission that God’s love shall be made known.
- We would raise our alleluias for the grace of former years; for tomorrow’s unknown pathway, hear, O God, our humble prayers. In the church’s pilgrim journey you have led us all the way, still in presence move before us, fire by night and cloud by day.
- Come, O Spirit, dwell among us, give us words of fire and flame. Help our struggling voices praise you, glorify your holy name. Good Creator, Savior, Spirit, Three in One: what mystery! We would sing our loud hosannas now and through eternity.
Community Connections
Announcements
We share opportunities for Beloved Community and ways to serve.
Lighting the Justice Candle to Lead us Forth
Memorial Day On May 1, 1865, formerly enslaved Black adults and children held a parade of 10,000 people to honor 257 dead Union soldiers. Those soldiers had been buried in a mass grave at the Washington Race Course, having died at the Confederate prison camp located there. After the city fell, recently freed persons unearthed and properly buried the soldiers.
Then, on May 1, they held a parade and placed flowers. The estimate of 10,000 people comes from contemporaneous reporting in archived material from Union veterans where the events were also described. From articles in the Charleston Daily Courier and the New-York Tribune “…all dropped their spring blossoms on the graves,” in a scene recorded by a newspaper correspondent, and “when all had left, the holy mounds — the tops, the sides, and the spaces between them — were one mass of flowers, not a speck of earth could be seen; and as the breeze wafted the sweet perfumes from them, outside and beyond … there were few eyes among those who knew the meaning of the ceremony that were not dim with tears of joy.” While the adults marched around the graves, the children were gathered in a nearby grove, where they sang “America,” “We’ll Rally Around the Flag,” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
¨ Benediction
” Benediciton Response Woyaya (We Will Get There)
Postlude Trumpet Concerto, Movement 1 Haydn
You are welcome to be seated to appreciate the music following service, and to show appreciation at the end with applause.
After the service, all those present are invited to move forward for our Church Family Photo!
Our Prayers for Others
¨ Each week we join millions of Christians who pray for one another through the ecumenical prayer cycle and, locally, the Berea Ministerial Association’s prayer cycle (World Council of Churches Ecumenical Prayer cycle: union-church.org/ministries/prayer) Let us hold the people of Indian Angola and Mozambique; and our brothers & sisters at River of Life Foursquare Church in our hearts, and pray for them today and throughout the week.
¨ Prayers for all the people of Ukraine for their safety and sovereignty. Prayers also that the government of Russia will turn to reason & respect for their own peoples’ lives as well as for Ukrainian families.
¨ All those seeking a new and just society and those fearful that they will be supplanted, may God open their hearts and include them in grace.
¨ For the survivors of the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria and all those in the aftermath of natural, and man-made, disasters.
¨ The Bellnier family and for David’s father, recently diagnosed with aggressive lymphoma.
¨ JoAnn Russell, Reda Hutton’s aunt, facing several medical challenges.
¨ Our church family members in nursing homes or who are homebound: Jan Hamilton, Doug Hindman, Betsy Hoefer, Dorie Hubbard, Loyal Jones, Lois Morgan, Tom & Sara Parker, Cheryl Payne, Alva Peloquin, Laura Robie, Betty Wray, Sally Zimmerman
¨ Patsy Boyce, sister-in-law of Bob and Jean Boyce, undergoing chemotherapy.
¨ Rita Barlow
¨ Melissa Zook, and all the family, at the death of her father, Frank Zook.
¨ Thomas Chapman, recovering from surgery
¨ Paul Jacobs, LaRee, Joseph and all the family, at the death of Paul’s father, Paul, Sr.
¨ The Brandenburg family, at the sudden death of Iris’ brother, Clayton, in Bristol, Tennessee.
¨ All those suffering from mental strain, trauma, and disease: may God soothe and heal all who are troubled.
¨ Angela Anderson, traveling to MD Anderson Hospital in Texas for treatment of her colon.
¨ Update on baby Silas, grand-nephew of Debbonnaire Kovacs, born prematurely and very tiny. They’ve done a genetic study and he did not have a stroke in utero and does not have cerebral palsy, thanks be to God. His study looks pretty good, and he is progressing well. Thanks to everyone for your prayers, and please continue.
¨ Celebrations with Prayers of Joy!
Birthdays: Today, May 28 – Hazel Morris; 29 – Maggie Park; 30 – David Vaughn; 31 – Sean Perry; June 1 – Dottie Lovell, Reid Livingston; 2 – Jane Mecham; 4 – Laura Menefee-Greene, Rhonda Whiston-Edwards, Loretta Reynolds, Eef Fontanez
Anniversaries: June 1 – Matt Saderholm & Angela Anderson
If we haven’t got your important dates, let us know. We’ll help you get connected in FellowshipOne Go!
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